Last week my team and I packed our bags and loaded into our friends van for a short journey to a nearby village. When we arrived, we were greeted by the men of the village, who brought us coffee and tea as we sat on bamboo mats taking in our new surroundings. The call to prayer rang directly over head and a Hindu funeral procession paraded the deceased down the street.
I sat there amazed at the difference only a 45 minutes drive can make from our home in the rice fields, to the tourist area in Seminyak, to this small community. I had no idea what to expect from the days ahead, but as usual I could not have anticipated what was to come.
Around 3pm the village children flocked to the temple/community center to play and learn with the 6 “Bule” that had just arrived. The hour we expected to spend singing songs with the children quickly became many hours of games and English and friendship. That night, after they had all changed into traditional clothing, the children returned to perform Balinese dance and music for my team. Next, they dressed us in sarongs and tried to teach us how to dance too!
After a strangely chilly night in our tents at the footsteps of the temple, we awoke to a group village leaders ready to dress us up in ceremonial hair, makeup, and clothes. The leaders lead us down the road for a photo shoot in the rice fields, complete with swords and spears! When we got back and had wiped the paint off of our faces, we rested and drank tea until all of our new friends returned! That afternoon, we played soccer, chicken chicken snake, and red light/green light for hours in hot sun (yes I got a sunburn)! After a quick 5 on 1 volleyball game and doughnut break, the village leaders had us sit together and prepare a “barbeque” together. As we chopped ginger and wrapped some fish satay, the children returned, excited as ever! After a few more hours of songs, patty cake, and the telephone game, we sat together as a community for dinner.
The next morning we headed to the nearby market, where we learned to haggle over the price of elephant pants and politely avoid the sellers with bikinis and sunglasses. Then we sat as a team on a “do nothing platform” to rest before our final days with the kids. Shortly thereafter, I found myself doing the Cha Cha slide next to our temple home, kicking a ball into a cardboard box, doing the hokey pokey, and handing out notebooks and certificates to the children that had so quickly accepted my team and I as family!
After a meeting with the village leaders, the children placed their hand on their heart and my hand to their foreheads, saying “Suksma” and “don’t forget us.” Hiding my tears, we took more pictures and said our final goodbyes as we piled back into the van.
… or so I thought!
On Sunday, some fellow world racers on the expedition route, unexpectedly showed up at our church here in Bali! They were looking for people to connect with on Bali and after spending a few hours together, we sent them to the village we had just left 3 days prior! Remembering how hospitable, honoring, and hungry for English and growth the community was, we were thrilled to already send more people to live with and love our new family!
Today is Monday, our last adventure day before we leave Bali, and Elizabeth and I have decided that the best thing to do is to return to the village to surprise the children and join our fellow racers for one final day/night together! God is moving in Bali, but I see and feel His presence so clearly in the beautiful village of Batuan and the people that live there!
I know that this will be a year of goodbyes for my fellow racers and I, but for the Lord this year is one of welcome! I feel so blessed to know and love my Balinese family and to see their hearts so eager to grow and quick to love! I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the people here, on my squad, at AIM, and at home! Thank you for partnering with me on this Kingdom journey!
His plans are BIG!
